Race of Love

Chapter 9

Kaeo sat on her bed, her laptop perched on her knees, but her attention was far from the screen. She had been staring at the same webpage for nearly ten minutes, her mind swirling with thoughts of Maya. Finding out about Maya's pregnancy had thrown her into a whirlwind of emotions—shock, concern, confusion,but there was something else there too. Something that had been quietly simmering beneath the surface for weeks, and now it felt impossible to ignore.

She liked Maya. Really liked her. And now that Maya was dealing with something so life-altering, Kaeo couldn't just keep that to herself anymore. Maya needed someone, and Kaeo wanted to be that someone—not just as a friend, but as something more. It was always easy to talk to her, her passion and determination to thrive was an alluring trait that pulled Kaeo in like a void.

But how was she supposed to tell Maya that? Especially now, with everything that was going on. The timing felt all wrong, yet at the same time, it felt more important than ever to be honest about her feelings.

Kaeo sighed, closing her laptop and setting it aside, her mind made up. She'd plan a simple, low-key outing. Nothing too extravagant or overwhelming, just something to lift Maya's spirits and give them a chance to talk. Maybe a walk in the park or a visit to that little café Maya liked—the one with the cozy corner booth and the best grilled cheese sandwiches. Kaeo smiled at the thought, remembering how Maya's eyes would light up whenever they went there.

Yes, that's what she would do. She'd take Maya out, help her relax for a bit, and then—if the moment felt right—she'd tell her how she felt. It didn't have to be a big confession. Just a simple, honest conversation.

Kaeo grabbed her phone, scrolling through her contacts until she found Maya's name. Her finger hovered over the call button for a moment, her heart pounding with nervous anticipation.

"Come on." Kaeo, she told herself. "Just do it".

She hit the button and brought the phone to her ear, her foot tapping anxiously as it rang. After a few moments, Maya's voice came through, soft and a little tired.

"Hey, Kaeo."

"Hey, Maya," Kaeo replied, trying to keep her voice casual. "How are you holding up?"

There was a brief pause before Maya answered. "I'm... I'm okay, I guess. Just trying to process everything, you know?"

"Yeah, I can only imagine," Kaeo said, her heart aching at the weariness in Maya's voice. "Listen, I was thinking... how about we get out of here for a bit? Just you and me. I know things have been crazy, but I thought it might be nice to take a break, clear your head."

Maya hesitated. "I don't know, Kaeo. I feel like I should be doing something more productive. I have so much to figure out..."

"I get that," Kaeo said gently, "but you deserve a break too. You've been through a lot, and it might help to step away from it all for a little while. We can just grab some food, go for a walk, whatever you want. No pressure."

There was another pause, and then Maya sighed softly. "Okay. Yeah, I think I'd like that. Where should we go?" Kaeo's smile widened. "How about we hit up that café you love? The one with the grilled cheese? My treat."

Maya let out a small laugh, the first Kaeo had heard from her in days. "You know me too well. That sounds perfect."

"Great," Kaeo said, relieved. "I'll meet you outside the dorm in about an hour?"

"Yeah, see you then," Maya agreed.

As Kaeo hung up, she took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. This was it. She was really going to do this. She just hoped that Maya would understand—maybe even feel the same way.

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An hour later, Kaeo stood outside in the dorm hallway, her hands stuffed into her pockets as she waited. When Maya finally appeared, Kaeo's breath caught for a moment. Despite the tiredness in her eyes, Maya still looked as beautiful as ever. Her blonde hair framed her face softly, and her smile, though small, was enough to make Kaeo's heart skip a beat.

"Ready?" Kaeo asked, trying to keep her tone light.

"Ready," Maya replied, stepping up beside her.

They walked in comfortable silence,When they reached the café, Kaeo led them to the familiar corner booth, and they slid into their seats. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, just as Kaeo had hoped. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of conversation around them created a comforting atmosphere

After they ordered, Kaeo watched Maya as she absently stirred her drink, her mind clearly elsewhere. This was the moment Kaeo had been waiting for, and she knew she had to say something before she lost her nerve.

"Maya," she began, her voice soft yet steady, "there's something I need to talk to you about."

Maya looked up, her brow furrowing slightly. "What is it?"

Kaeo took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I've been thinking a lot lately, about everything that's been happening, I know this might not be the best time to bring it up, but... I care about you, Maya. A lot. More than just as a friend."

Maya blinked, her expression one of surprise. "Kaeo, I..."

Kaeo held up a hand, stopping her gently. "Let me finish, okay? I know things are complicated right now, and I don't want to make things harder for you. But I couldn't keep this to myself anymore. I like you, Maya. I really like you. And I want to be there for you, should you let me."

Maya stared at her, a mix of emotions playing across her face. Something that gave Kaeo a glimmer of hope.

"I don't expect you to have an answer right now," Kaeo continued, her voice softening. "I just wanted you to know how I feel. No matter what you decide about the baby, or about us, I'll support you. You don't have to go through this alone."

For a moment, the only sound between them was the quiet hum of the café. Then, slowly, Maya reached across the table, her hand trembling slightly as it found Kaeo's.

"Maya," she began, her voice soft but steady, "there's something I need to talk to you about."

Maya looked up, her brow furrowing slightly. "What is it?"

Kaeo took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I've been thinking a lot lately, about everything that's been happening, and about us. I know this might not be the best time to bring it up, but... I care about you, Maya. A lot. More than just as a friend."

Maya blinked, her expression one of surprise. "Kaeo, I..."

Kaeo held up a hand, stopping her gently. "Let me finish, okay? I know things are complicated right now, and I don't want to make things harder for you. But I couldn't keep this to myself anymore. I like you, Maya. I really like you. And I want to be there for you, however you need me to be."

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Maya stared at her, her mind whirling with a thousand thoughts. She had always felt close to Kaeo, always trusted her more than anyone else. But hearing Kaeo say that she liked her—really liked her—was something she hadn't expected. "Kaeo... I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything right now," Kaeo said quickly, her eyes searching Maya's. "I just wanted you to know how I feel. And no matter what happens, I'm here for you, okay? We can figure this out together."

Slowly, Maya reached across the table, her hand trembling slightly as it found Kaeo's."Thank you, Kaeo. I don't know what I'd do without you." Kaeo had always been there for her, but lately, she'd been a constant source of support, someone Maya could lean on without feeling judged.

"You don't have to worry about that," Kaeo said softly, Maya felt a lump form in her throat. "I'm not going anywhere."